Writing instrument



March 4, v1947.

L. J. B IRO WRITING INSTRUMENT Y Filed Dec, 3 1, 194s 2 sneets-sheet 1 NIW.

-of constant position,

Patented Mar. 4,1 1947 Fics WRITING INSTRUMENT Buenos Aires, Argentina, as-

signor, by mesne assignments, to Etes-pen Sociedad Anonima Financiera,

Buenos Aires,

.Eterpen, S. A.,

pany of Argentina Application December 31, 1943, Serial No.

also known as Argentina, a. ecm-A In Argentina November 6, 1943 16 claims. (ci. 12o-4s) This inventionv relates' to fountain pens and refers more particularly to fountain pens yof the kind which comprises an ink reservoir formed by an extension of the channel for supplying the writing point with ink, a system which by itself has yielded convenient results, although under certain conditions of arrangement only, which should duly be taken into account when considering the further development of the industry.

In fact, the extension of the feed channel for constituting the reservoir by means of a duct of small section, allows of establishing a iluid vein after the manner of an automatically replaceable lead rod inA a pencil, but, in the provision of a duct of a certain lngth adapted to be fed with a relatively 'ample amount, several difculties are encountered, owing to the necessity of arranging the duct in a winding or meandering iorm, or ofV otherwise arranging the same in such a way that it will occupy to the largest possible extent the capacity of the holder of the instrument.

In accordance with this invention, these difficulties are overcome in a rather simple way, thereby allowing of the manufacture of fountain pens at a low cost and adapted to receive a charge of considerable yield and duration.

For this purpose, a feed channel consisting of several sections is provided, so arranged that the Whole of the sections will form a series or group of duct sections, conveniently iitted in the body of the holder, thereby using the space to the best advantage.

To this end, the duct sections, which form the ink reservoir, are connected together and communicate in series by means of passages leading from one section into the other, and as said sections are longitudinal and preferably parallel to the axis of the pen, the whole of the sections will be of a length several times that of the holder.

The duct consisting of a plurality of sectionsfor forming the reservoir may be constructed in several manners, as use may be made indiierently of a capillary tube folded into several lengths until forming a series or whole, or a group of channels or ducts may be bored in a block which may then be connected to, or form an integral part of, the fountain pen, provided the several sections of the duct be connected in series, so that one will be a continuation of another. f

Besides the objects above stated, this invention also has other aims in view, among which is to be noted a reservoir-in the shape of a vein rangement ball or point, will constitute the longitudinal sec-y tions by simply bending or folding the same into 'a b o Another object tends to secure a simple arrangement of the reservoir. by the provision vof simple borings designed to :form the ducts which communicate in series, one a continuation oi the other.

A further object of the invention consists in using the very material of the holder of the pen as a basis in which toA provide the channels or longitudinal sections which form the ink reservoir.

A still. further object consists in preventing gravitation from inuencing the reversed posi` tion of the instrument, for which purpose the end of the air intake of the duct is positioned to project toward the Writing point of the pen.`

Other objects ,of the invention will appear when considering the detailed descriptionA of the same, which for purposes of clearness and ready understanding has been illustrated in several figures showing, by way of example, some preferred embodiments of the improved fountain pen'. In said drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates a general view of the arof the fountain pen, showing in particular the series or group of tubular sections which, by communicating in series, form the ink reservoir which occupies the greater part of the body ofthe holder; in this case, the ink reservoir consists of a tube bent into sections grouped to form a series.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, illustrating the manner of establishing a communication in series between the several sections of the duct, one a continuation of the other.

Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section of another design of 'fountain pen, wherein the group of duct sections is constituted by longitudinal borings provided in the very;body of the'holder, said duct sections being connected vone to another in continuous'communication, in order to obtain the series for forming the uid vein when filling the same with ink.

Figure 4 illustrates a cross section on the line l--t of Figure 3, showing the manner of comforms the series or whole a is the body the feed channel supply from the reservoir b.

i other, so as to form,

chiasso municating the several sections by means of passages, for obtaining the series and forming the duct which is to constitute the ink reservoir.

Figure shows a cross section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3, illustrating the opposite part of the communications between the sections which of the duct.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic representation of' the embodiment of Figures 3, 4 and 5, giving a clear idea of the group of duct sections which by continuous communication of one with another form the series which'constitute the duct serving as an ink reservoir. i Figure '7 shows a perspective of another embodiment of the invention, consistingof a group or series of duct sections formed by a striated `body placed within a jacket orenvelope which forms the body of the pen holder, said sections inter-communicating by means of passages by which to secure the arrangement in series for obtaining an ink reservoir in shape of the whole `oi? the ducts; and nally,

Figure 8 is a cross section of the body ofthe pen, taken on lin'e 8 8 and according to the construction shown in the foregoing Figure 7.

The same numbers and letters of reference have been used to indicate like or corresponding `parts in all the several views..

As will be seen by referring to the drawings, part of the pen or holder, properly, ending with a point i, at which, by means of a suitable mounting 2, the small sphere or ball 3 is adapted, which forms the writing element, said sphere being in contact with the ink supplied by 4 which, in turn, receives its As already stated before, the reservoir b is formed by a duct forming an extension of the feed channel 4, but comprising several particular features which constitute the basis of this invention.

In fact, said reservoir b is formed by a linear duct, constituted by a' plurality of lengths or duct sections 45 preferably arranged as a whole and l parallel to the body or the holder a, thus forming a series or group of duct sections which together occupy the greater pant of the body d; said sections 5 are connected together and communicate in series, one in continuation of the as a whole, one single channel, commencing at the inlet or air intake 6 and ending at the feed duct 4 of the sphere 3,

This invention is adapted for construction in many ways, among which are to be particularly noted the embodiments shown in the several gures ofthe accompanying drawings.

In the embodiment according to Figure 1, the reservoir b is formed by a duct or 'tube of the capillary type, which, being connected to the feed channel 4, extends parallel to the holder a,

. 4 A mark the strokes with the ink supplied from the channel containing said liquid vein.

In the embodiment of Figures 3, 4 and 5, the reservoir b is also formed by lengths or sections 5, but in this case, said sections are established by borings provided in the body of the holder a.

Said borings extend longitudinally in a parallel arrangement, so that the whole of sections or ductsv 5 will form a group. The borings or sections 5 are closed at both ends, viz: by means of the head piece c, corresponding with the point l, and the head piece d which forms a sort of butt. The body part c is threaded at l into the body a, while the body d -is threaded at 8 into said body a, as may be seen when referring to Figure 3.

In spite of the closure established by the body parts c and d, the channel sections 5 are enabled to communicate with each other, although in a particular manner, that is to say, each section 5 communicates with another section by means of a. passage 5', so that all the sections will form a continuation in series, wherein the duct sections 5 will be connected, as shown in Figure 6, in continuation one with another by means of said'passages 5' and thus form one single linear duct.

One of the duct sections, indicated at 5", ends with an inlet 6 which forms an air intake, directed towards the end of the point I, but at a certain distance short of the same; this arrangement has for its object the prevention of the ink, when the pen is in a reversed position from being discharged by gravitation, whilst .the section situated along the axial line of the instrument is that which is in direct communication with the feed duct 4.

In the embodiment in accordance with Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, when filling the reservoir with ink, a liquid vein is established also in the corresponding duct, which must be maintained without interruption up to the sphere 3, in order to serve as a fountain for feeding the ink With reference, finally, to the embodiment shown in Figures '7 and 8, it will be seen that the reservoir b consists of a striated body e, arranged to t snugly within the walls surrounding the and as the tube is folded several times by a bend through 180, the same will form a group of reduced length formed by several sections 5, with the bends 5 establishing communication between or air intake 6 tothe sphere 3, which is thus' maintained in contact with the in order that when causing the same to roll over a suitable surface, the sphere held by its mounting 2, will cavity a' of the body a, which in this case is of tubular shape.

Said striated body e is formed with longitudinal grooves which together with the walls of the cavity a constitute the duct sections 5, thus arranged to form a group or series.

In the case shown in Figures 7 and 8, the whoie of the striated body e fitted in the envelope a, is complemented by the body parts c and d, connected thereto by screwing at 1 and 8, in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 3; and the same as in the former case, the duct sections 5 communicate one with another in series, so as to obtain a linear duct for forming the reservoir b. The body a is axially provided with a bore which, by communicating in series with the other sections, forms the last section 5, for connection to the feed duct. 4 which ends at the sphere il.

- As in the foregoing cases, this embodiment is charged with a dense ink, so as to establish a continual liquid vein, ending at the mounting piece of the sphere 3, for feeding the latter as a fountain pen.

From the foregoing description,'it will be seen that the invention substantially consists-in the provision of sectional ducts 5, arranged as a whole to form a series or group, by means of bends or passages 5', said duct sections communicating in series, one in continuation of another, so that the whole of duct sections will form one single enveloping said body,

duct, commencing at an inlet hole 6 and ending at a. feed ductJl, connected to the mounting of the sphere, said duct constituting the reservoir b, to be filled with a dense or semi-duid ink and to form therewith an uninterrupted liquid vein', extending to the mounting 2 of the sphere 3. Said duct sections may be formed by lengths of tubes, borings or by a combination o-f suchelements, as illustrated by the embodiments shown in the several figures of the accompanying drawings. l

It should be understood that instead of a sphere, the stylographic point may comprise a pen or other common or known writing means.

It will also be evident that in carrying the invention into practice, modifications may be introduced with regard to certain details of construction and shape of the fountain pen, without departing from the basic principles of .the invention, to be clearly set forth in the claims hereto annexed.

I claim:

l. A writing implement for use with dense 'Writing ink, having a tip with a longitudinallyextending bore, a ball rotatably mounted in the tip at the front end of the bore, a body with a plurality of longitudinal striations and a shell therefor constituting an ink reservoir characterized by a continuous ink-holding passage, which passage holds the entire supply of the ink used in the Writing implement, said passage being connected at one of its ends with the bore leading tothe ball and being open at its other end to atmospheric pressure.

2. A fountain pen of the type in .which a ball rotarily mounted at one end thereof is employed es the writing element, a body having a plurality of longitudinal capillary striations, a. shell for whereby a plurality of capillary ducts are formed, an axial duct formed in said pen, said ducts being adapted to be serially interconnected by transverse grooves, thereby forming a continuous ink reservoir in which one end thereof is exposed to the atmosphere and in which the other end is connected to the writing element.

3. In a fountain pen, a ball comprising a Writing element, a seat within which said ball is mounted for rotation, a duct connected with said seat, saidduct constituting the ink reservoir for the pen and being in the form of a continuous passage bent upon itself from the ballseat to the other end of the duct, which end is open whereby the ink is subject to atmospheric pressure, the duct sections comprising a continuous tube closely folded at a plurality of points with bends of 180 into lengths only slightly less than the length of the entire pen, and a tubular houslng constituting the pen holder within which said tube lengths are nested.

4. A self-contained pen unit adapted for insertion in a tubular pen holder, said unit being designed for use with a semi-iuid ink and comprising a freely-rotatable writing ball, a mounting within which said ball is supported for rotation, and a capillary ink holding duct in communication at one of its ends with said mounting constituting the ink reservoir for the entire supply of ink used in the pen unit and being provided at its other end with an air vent, and said duct having a substantially straight portion which in diameter is but a small fraction of the diameter of the holder and which when the unit is inserted in the holder extends lengthwise of the holder for the the latter.

5. A reservoir for a ball point pen' of the type employing a semi-fluid ink, Said reservoir comprising a solid body member, a plurality of longitudinal capillary bores in said body member, a plurality of transverse passages in said body member for interconnecting said longitudinal bores to provide a single continuous ink holding duct, said duct being, adapted to hold the entire reserve supply of ink for the pen, said duct being adapted for connection at one of its ends with the ball point of the pen and being open at its other end. y v

6. In a. fountain pen of the type in which a ball rotarily mounted in the body thereof is employed for the writing element, a plurality of longitudinal capillary ducts formed in said body for containing ink as the writing medium, one of said ducts being axially disposed in said body, a transverse duct at one end of said body for interconnecting two of said longitudinal ducts, a second transverse duct at the other end of said body for connecting one of said interconnected ducts to said axial duct, whereby a continuous passage is formed, said passage being adapted to hold the entire reserve supply of ink for the pen, and means for connecting the axial duct end of said passage to said ball and the other end to the atmosphere. c

'LA fountain pen comprising, in combination, a writing point member, a rear end member, an intermediate member abuttingly coupled to Said point and rear end members, and a writing ball rotarily mounted in said point member,- said intermediate member containing a plurality of longitudinal capillary ducts bored therethrough, one of said ducts being axially disposed in said intermediate member, said intermediate member having transverse grooves at the extremities thereof for interconnecting predetermined pairs of said longitudinal ducts in series, said grooves being formed into transverse passages by said point and rear end members, whereby a con- 6 greater part of the length of tinuous linear duct is formed, which duct con-f stitutes the ink reservoir for the pen, and an axial duct of smaller diameter in said point member for interconnecting one end of said linear duct and said writing ball, the other end of said linear duct being open and subject to atmospheric pressure.

8. In a fountain pen of the type having a freely rotatable Writing ball mounted in a seat, an ink reservoir for the pen adapted to contain a semifluid ink, said reservoir consisting of a single capillary passage formed by a plurality of straight substantially parallel interconnecting sections, said passage communicating at one end with said seat leading to an air intake at the end of the passage remote from the seat.

9. A fountain pen of the type having a freely rotatable writing ball mounted in a seat, an ink reservoir for the pen adapted to containa semifluid ink, said reservoir comprising a capillary passage of substantially constant cross-section which communicates at one end with said seat and which forms a continuous path bent upon itself and leads to an air intake at the end of the passage remote from said seat, said passage when charged with ink forming an uninterrupted vein of ink extending'to said ball seat.

10. Ina fountain pen of the type having a freely rotatable writing ball mounted in a seat, a capillary passage forming the ink reservoir for the pen and consisting of a plurality of substantially straight parallel sections connected together in series, said passage communicating at one end with said seat and after following a path subthe entire length of the l pen leaves an open end leading to an air intake stantiallylonger than channel opening forwardly` into said socket, in-

cluding in combination a hollow holder for removably supporting the aforesaid parts, an ink reservoir for holding substantially all of the ink, said reservoir comprising a duct of substantially constant cross section connected at one end with the feed channel and being provided at its other end witha vent, said duct having at least one straight section which extends longitudinally within A the holder for a major portion of the length thereof, said reservoir being removable from the hollow holder as a unit with the aforesaid ball and socket parts.

12. In a fountain pen for use with a semi-fluid ink, a casing which includes a front end portion which tapers forwardly to substantially a point and contains a small ink feeding duct which ter-` minates at said point in a forwardly opening socket, said casing also including a hollow ho.der portion of conventional fountain pen size which is vented to the atmosphere and extends rearwardly from said forwardly tapering front end portion, a writing ball rotatably mounted in the socket, said casing forming an ink-free air chamber, and, means within said chamber for holding the entire reserve supply of ink used in the pen and feeding such ink forwardly to said feeding duct, said means comprising a centrally arranged ink holding tube of relatively small diameter, which tube is of such small cross-sectional area relative to the' iiow characteristics of the inkadapted to ll the same as to prevent any appreciable flow of the ink in either direction in the tube under the influence of gravity alone, is but a small fraction,

of the diameter of the holder portion of the casing, is connected at its front end with the duct leading to the socket in which the ball is mounted, is open at its other end, and is surrounded by said ink-free air chamber.

13. In a fountainpen for u se with a semi-fluid ink, a casing which includes a front end portion which tapers forwardly, a tip member which contains a small ink feeding duct and a forwardly opening socket at the front end of said duct, said casing also including a hollow holder portion of conventional fountain pen size which is vented to the atmosphere and extends rearwardly from said forwardly tapering front end portion, a writ.

ing ball rotatably mounted in the socket, said holder portion of the casing forming an ink-free air chamber, and means within said chamber for holding the entire reserve supply of ink used in the pen and feeding such ink forwardly to said feeding duct, said means comprising a centrally arranged ink holding tube which is structurally separate from the casing and removable relative y thereto, which ink holding tube is of such small cross-sectional area relative to the flow characteristlcs of the ink adapted to fill the same as to yprevent any appreciable ow of the ink in either direction in the tube under the influence of gravity alone, is but a small fraction of the diameter of the holder portion of the casing, is connected at its front end with the duct leading to the socket, is open at its other end, and is surrounded by said ink-free air chamber.

14. In a ball point writing instrument.. for use with a semi-fluid ink, a writing tip containing a forwardly opening socket, a ball rotatably mounted in the socket, and a duct of considerably less diameter than the socket, forwardly into the `socket behind the ball and opens rearwardly into an ink holding reservoir; an elongated pen-shapedhousing having a forwardly tapering front end portion in whichthe writing tip is positioned, said housing being hollow for the greater part of its length rearwardly of the writing tip and being vented to the atmosphere; and an 'ink holding reservoir encased within the hollow portion of the housing, which reservoir comprises a plain longitudinally extending one-piece tube of small diameter and generally uniformv cross section, which tube vis structurally independent of the housing and is removable therefrom; said tube having a diameter which is but a small fraction of the diameter of the main portion of the housing, and having an internal cross sectional area which is substantially larger than said duct; said tube being connected at its front end to said duct and being provided at its opposite end with an opening which is subjected to the atmospheric pressure within the housing; said tube being adapted to hold the main supply of ink for the pen and being of such small interior cross sectional area relative to the flow characteristics of the lnk with which it is adapted to be used as to maintain the ink in a continuous vein, which vein when the instrument is charged with ink will commence at said ball and will extend rearwardly therefrom without interruption through said duct and tube, irrespective of the position in which the instrument may be placed.

15. A ball point writing instrument, adaptedy for use with a senil-fluid ink, comprising a long slender tip the front end of which tapers to substantially a point and contains a forwardly opening socket, a ball rotatably mounted in the socket, and an ink feeding duct which opens forwardly into the socket; an ink holding and feeding reservoir disposed rearwardly of the tip in communication with the duct in the latter, said tip being exteriorly threaded in rearwardly spaced relation to its reduced front end, an elongated hollow pen-shaped casing in which the writing tip and reservoir are positioned, said casing including a forwardly tapering front section which contains an axial bore in whichthe tip is positioned and through the front end of which the front end of the tip projects, which bore is threaded in rearwardly spaced relation to its front end for screw threaded connection with the threads onthe tip, and said casing also including a generally cylindrical rear section in which the reservoir is housed.

16. A ball point writing instrument, adapted for use with a semi-uid ink, comprising a long l slender tip the front end of which tapers to substantially a point and contains a forwardly opening socket,r a ball rotatably mounted in the socket, and an ink feeding duct which opens forwardly into the socket; an ink holding and feeding reservoir disposed rearwardly of the tip in communication with the duct in the latter, said tip being exteriorly threaded in rearwardly spaced relation to its reduced front end at a point adjacent the front end of the reservoir;

- an elongated hollow pen-shaped casing in which the writing tip and reservoir are positioned, said which duct opens casing including a forwardly tapering front section which contains an axial bore in which the tip is positioned and through the front end of which the front end of the tip projects, which bore is threaded in rearwardly spaced relation to its front end for screw threaded connection with the threads on the tip, and said casing also including a relatively thin walled generally cylindrical rear section in which the reservoir is housed, the rear end of the front section of the casing being reduced in diameter and exteriorly threaded, and the front end of the rear section of the casing being interiorly threaded for screw threaded connection therewith.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,493,680 Koepsell May 13, 1924 A1,500,426 Townsend July 8, 1924 v892,046 Loud Oct. 30, 1888 `233,924 Downes Nov. 2, 1880 ,.11v,'327,729 aschal Jan. 13, 1920 1,179,086 'l'xFoster Apr. 11, 1916 EOREIGN PATENTS luinber Country YDater 396,764 British 1933 413,764 British 1934 800,851 French 1936 OTHER REFERENCES Knott Catalogue of Physical Instruments, 1916, Page 133, item 324-75. 

